Suction cleaner



` principles of my invention rather Patented Mar; l, 1938 UNITED STATES ixkreia'ry oFFicr-Ll t sUc'noN CLEANER 1 I -James B. Kirby, west Richfield, ohm Applitation .my 2o, 1931, serial No. 551,937

- 8 Claims.

This inventionrelates to suction cleaners and has for its object the provision of a new;simplifled and improved brush mechanism for the collecting `nozzles of such devices characterized chiefly by new and improved provisions for keeping the Vbrush clean, and (if desired) 4for imparting vsuch movement to said brush as will dislodge lint and litter without at the same time injuring the oor coverings on which it is used. A subsidiary object of the invention is thc provision of an air turbine for driving the brush, said turbine being so arranged relative to the rest of the cleaner that the air which operates the same shall be available for the cleaning operation; while further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this application I have illustrated my improvements as applied to a well-known type of portable electric cleaner, though it Will be understood that my improvements are not-limited either to this type of machineor to any of the particular designs shown, these being illustrative Vof the than limiting in respect of their application.

Fig. 1 is-a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view. through the center of the collecting nozzle and fan chamber of a specimen cleaner; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the machine shown inl Fig. 1; Figs. Band 4 are transverse sectional views corresponding to the lines 3 3 -and 4 4 respectively of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 5 is a perspective view ofthe brush connection; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view partly broken away showing of brush and brush-mounting.

The particular suction cleaner here chosen for purposes of illustration comprises a collecting-nozzle I0, fan-casing I I and motor-housing I2, connected rigidly together in the order named from front to rear, and supported by suitable floor-wheels I3 with the motor-shaft I4 substantially horizontal, and the inlet-mouth oi.' the nozzle properly presented to the ioor. 'I'he motor-shaft is provided inside the fan-casing with a centrifugal-fan I5 which sucks air in throughthe nozzleand delivers it, together with d ust and litter, to a bag (not shown) So far as the present invention is concerned the mode of producing the suction, the location of the suction-pump, and the mode of separating the air and dust are entirely immaterial. I have shown the'nozzl'e as detachably secured to the fan-casing bymeans of .a catch I6 at one side of the inlet port I1 and a latch I8 on the opposite side of that inlet port.

The --nomle is formed with a -narrowrelongated a modified form suction chamber I9`having a downwardly-facing inlet-mouth arranged. transversely and 'defined between front and rear horizontal lips 2I and 22, respectively,which are located substantially on the same level so as to define a. substantially horizontal plane. This suction chamber communicates directly and freely with the port' I1 and thence with the suction-producing apparatus; and formed directly in the rear of this suction-chamber and extending throughout at least the greater part of the length of the same is a transversely elongated vbrush-chamber 23,

also formed with a. downwardly-facing mouth l is preferably located at a slightly higher level than the lip24 althoughto assure a constant restricted communication between the two chambers substantially at floor level the lip 22 is pref; erably notched or apertured along its lower margin as shown at.25. Suitably supported inside the -brush chamberis a. brush, preferably of simple construction and here illustrated as comprising merely an elongated wooden back-strip 26, having secured in its lower face a plurality of bristle-tufts 21 which project into contacting relation face Provision being air linto the chamber these bristle-tufts, as by the apertures 32, it will be seen that the air stream induced through the slots 25 by suction inside the chamber I9 with the supporting sur-v made for the admission of I will cause a iiow of air down along-these bristletufts in a. direction to remove adherent lint and litter therefrom.

A particularly simple mode of supporting this brush is that shown in Fig. 6 wherein the strip 26- is provided at each end with -a vertical slot 28",4 while the chamber 23 ,is' provided at each end z with a spring wire 29 depending. from its roof and terminating'at its lower end in an 'enlarge- Ament or eye which islocated slightly above the plane oi the lip 24. `Due to the resilience of 23 at a higher level than these wires the brush can readily be introduced 4 I and removed, while the enlargement III* prevents its accidental falling out despite its weight and u fio , the ball yieldingly to its seat and the rod 48 which, as

the pressure of the springs 3|* employed to produce working pressure on the carpet.

A preferred mode of supporting and at the same time imparting motion tothe brush is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, wherein the rear wall of the nozzle is illustrated as formed with a hor'izontal hollow pocket formed in an enlargement 36. This pocket communicates freely with the chamber 23, and screwed in` its mouth is a supporting-ring 31 formed with a circular row of air-inlet apertures 38, `surrounding a central socket-member 39. The inner end of this socket member is constricted to form a seat fora ball 48 to which is secured the rod 4| which projects into the brush-chamber where it is provided with a second ball 42 operatively secured to the brushstrip 26 in any suitable way, as by the iiexible metal clip 43.shown in Fig. 5 and having a pair of spaced resilient side walls 44 formed with' apertures 45 in which the sides of the ball 42 are loosely received. Loosely journaled on the exterior of the rod ll between the two balls is a hollow sleeve 46 having` secured to the end near-l est the apertures 38 a rotor having curved blades 41 shaped and located to receive the air currents entering through the apertures 38 and to be set thereby in rapid rotation. Secured to the opposite end of the sleeve 46 is an eccentric weight a result of this rotation, causes a vigorous vibration of the rod 4| and with it the brush. Suitable anti-friction bearing bushings 49 are preferably employed inside this shaft.

In order to hold the rod 4| yieldlngly in place,

while allowing a limited degree of movement to the brush,-I have shown a hollow cap 50 threaded to vthe socket member 39 and having in its end an aperture 5| through which this rod extends. Screwed on the exterior of this rod so as to hold the ball 48 in place is a hollow sleeve 52, and the size of aperture 5| isso chosen as to afford to the brush the desired degree of moveinent. A volute spring 53 engages this ball Aand sleeve and cap inside the socket member, to hold yieldingly in its central position, while permitting the rod to gyrate under the influence of the rapidly revolving eccentric weight 48.

In order to guide the movements of the brush I have shown the same as having each of its ends provided with a wire clip 50 terminating in a horizontally projecting finger 6| which is loosely received in a vertical slot |32l formed in the end wall G3 of the brush chamber 23. The ends of the brush strip are spaced from these end' walls by a suicient amount to permit the desired freedom of brush movement, for example three-sixteenths of an inch at-each end more or less. It

, is also, of course, necessary to restrict the size of the weight 48 sufliciently to prevent its margin from coming into contact with the walls-of the pocket in which it revolves.

No motion of this brush is produced excepting when the nozzle is applied to a fioor'or other working surface so as substantially to seal the inlet mouth and compel the ingress of air through the apertures 38. When this is done the brush is vibrated in its own plane with a rapid scratching movement, very effective in loosening dust and adherent litter but without any such abrasion of a flooror wall-covering as to injure the same. At the same time the direction of lair iow past the bristles .is such as to tend to keep the bristles clean. When the inlet mouth is supported horizontally above the oor as by the wheel arrangement shown in Fig. 1 the carpet is often with the working surface is very by which` the fabric tained in other sometimes also into contact with the lip 22. In the absence or 'extreme adjustment of such Y wheels the nozzle may sometimes be supported by the lip 24, but in any case without changing the mode of operation of the brush. Due. to the yielding mounting of the brush, its engagement gentle, and the plane of such engagement varies with the amount is sucked against the mouth When the air inlet openings 32a or 38 are large and the brush body is made of a size largely to fill the brush chamber the air pressure tends, in operation, to force the brush downwardly against the floor.

It will be understood that a great many changes in detail, construction, appearance and design can be made without departing from the scope of my invention, and that I do not limit myself in any wise except as specifically recited in my several claims which I desire may be construed each independently of limitations conclaims. Having thus described my -invention what I claim is:

'1. In a suction cleaner, a suction chamber and a brush chamber having, narrow elongated inlet mouths located side by side for application to one and the same working surface and communicating with each other across and adjacent to said working surface, suction means communicating with said suction chamber. a brush in said brush chamber, and means for imparting to said brush a vibratory motion, one wall of said brush-chamber having an air-inlet therein spaced from the working surface.

2. In a suction cleaner, a suction chamber and a brush chamber having narrow elongated inlet mouths located side by sidefor application to one and the same working surface and communicating with each other across and adjacent to saidV working surface, a brush located in said brush chamber, means yieldlngly supporting said brush to enable it to move' vertically in accordance with inequalities in the working surface, and means for imparting to said brush an operative movement independent of and additional to the moveducing means communicating with said nozzle,

a brush in said brush chamber, and an air turbine exhausting into said brush chamber and operatively connected to said brush, one wall of said brush `chamber having an air passage` therethrough leading from the outer air to said turbine whereby there is-provided a substantially downward movement of air over said brush.

4. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle having therein a suction chamber" and a brush chamber, said chambers being Separate from each other and having independent inlet mouths located adjacent to each other and facing in the same direction, means for sucking air out of the suction chamber, a'brushlocated in said brush chamber, and means vibrating said brush relative to the working surface while maintaining its bristles substantially normal to said surface, the outer lips of both mouths extending into close-proximity to such working surface, said brush `ch am ber-having an opening for the ingress of air to replace that which passes from one mouth to the 5 Other.

5. Ina suction cleaner, a nozzlehaving two separate chambers therein,said chambershaving narrow elongated inlet mouths located side by side for application to one and the same Work- 10 ing surface, and communicating with each other acrosstheir common lip, means for sucking air and dust out of one of said chambers, the other chamber having an air inlet passageway in one wall, `an air turbine operatively mounted in said 15 passageway and exhausting into the other of said chambers, a brush carried by said nozzle, and operative connections between said brush and turbine, the outer lips of said mouths extending into close proximity to the working. surface and 20 the two mouths communicating with each other- 30. dened by the remaining lips, means for sucking air and .dust from one of said` chambers, means for admitting air to the other of said chambers,`

located side byv chamber operatively connected to said turbine, said 'turbine exhaustinginto 'the .last named chamber whereby there is provided a substantial- I ly downward movement of air over s'aid brush.

7. In a suction cleaner nozzle, a chamber having a horizontally supporting member located inside said pocket and having a'socket and a plurality of apertures Y f3 an airturbine operatively associated with saidair,A admitting means, and a'brush in the last named projecting hollow pocket, a

surrounding said'sock'et, a rod yieldingly mounted in said socket fr gyratory movement, a brush in said chamber supported by and articulated to t the free end of said rod, a sleeve rotatably mounted on said rod, turbine blades, carried by one end of said sleeve adjacent to said apertures, andan eccentric .weight carried bythe opposite yend ofA said sleeve. l l

8.` In a suction cleaner, a nozzle havinga brush chamber therein, abrush in said chamber, a. supporting rod having one end varticulated to said brush and the other yieldingly secured to a part of said nozzle spaced'from said brush,.said rod being substantially horizontal whereby said brush may have a follow the inequalitiesof the working surface,

v an eccentrically unbalanced rotatable member journaled uponsaid rod, and means for imparting rotation to said member to superimpose upon said supporting rod aim vement of vibration.

f JAMES amv;

yielding movementto enable it toV 

